Cone bottom charging bucket for cupolas



y 1955 F. H. FONES CONE BOTTOM CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1949 INVENTOR. Frank H. Fones ATTOR NEYJuly 5, 1955 F, H, FONES 2,712,468

CONE BOTTOM CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS Filed April 11, 1949 [(2 4Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

Frank H. Fones ATTORNEY July 5, 1955 F. H. FONES 2,712,468

CONE BOTTOM CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS Filed April 11. 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Frank H. Fones ATTORNEY July 5, 1955 F. H.FONES CONE BOTTOM CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPOLAS Filed April 11. 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Frank H. Fones .IHIIIF United States PatentCONE BQTEGM CHARGING BUCKET FOR CUPGLAS Frank H. Fones, Chicago, 111.,assignor to Whiting Corporation, Harvey, 113., a corporation of IllinoisApplication April 11, 1949, Serial No. 86,816

11 Claims. (Cl. 294-72) My invention is directed to cupola chargingdevices and refers particularly to an improved form of cone bottomcharging bucket which may be supported upon trunnions and raised tocupola charging levelby a skip hoist or the like. 7

There have been several types of devices proposed for charging cupolas,many of which have proven to be quite satisfactory. One of the mostpopular forms is known as the skip hoist type wherein an inclined runwayis pivotally supported at its lower end and raises a bucket containingthe charge to the cupola charging level. This runway may be turned onits pivot to serve several cupolas, which are customarily arranged inarcuate formation along the path of movement of the swinging end of therunway. This type of charging device, however, has in the past utilizeda bucket provided with either single or double doors across its bottomfor discharging the contents of the bucket at the proper moment, whereasother systems, such as the monorail type, have employed cone bottombuckets, which are considered preferable inasmuch as the contents of thebucket are dis charged more slowly and tend to fall nearer the walls ofthe cupola than is the case with a single or double door type bucket,thus improving draft and cupola operatron.

Cone bottom buckets normally include a shell closed at its lower end byan upright cone and are supported by a rod extending from the coneupwardly through the shell and into engagement with a hoistingblock orcable. These buckets, therefore, require some form of support in thecupola, such as a wishbone or a yoke, for holding the shell stationarywhile the bottom is allowedto drop by slacking the lifting cable. Thesewishbones or yokes are subject to severe treatment and high temperature.One of the primary objects of my invention is to pro: vide a skip hoisttype of cupola charging system utilize ing a cone bottom chargingbucket. .1 Another important object of my invention is to provide a conebottom charging bucket adapted for support by trunnions fixed to thesides of the bucket and provided with automatic release mechanism fordischarging the contents of the bucket at the proper moment. Otherobjects of my invention include the provision of a device of the typedescribed having an automatic latching mechanism for the cone, whichrequires no supporting structure for the bucket within the cupola, whichincorporates means for retarding the rate at which the bucket opens,which may be mounted to serve a plurality of cupolas, and which isdurable and efiicient in operation. 7

Other objects, as well as further marked advantages of my invention willbe disclosed in the course of the following detailed description and inthe appended drawings in which: I Fig. 1 is a schematic partiallysectioned elevation of a skip hoist type of cupola charging system; I

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic, partially sectioned view of "ice the deviceshown in Fig. 1, illustrating the disposition of cupolas with respect tothe charging apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned plan view of my charging bucket;

Fig. 4 is a partially broken away and sectioned elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partially broken away elevation taken along the lines 5--5of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the cone bottom for the bucket;

Fig. 7 is a partially elevation of the latching mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a schematic elevation of a modified form of my inventionillustrating a release mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a partial schematic elevation of a preferred form of bottomretarding device. r Fig. 11 is a plan view of the piston utilized in thedevice shown in Fig. 10 illustrating the positions of the relief ports.

Fig. 12 is a section taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a partial elevation taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

The general arrangement of my skip hoist charging device is shown inFigs. 1 and 2 wherein I have illustrated a pair of identical cupolas 10and 11 of conventional design disposed near each other and on an arc ofa circle having its center at a predetermined point,vindicated at 12.Each of the cupolas 10 and 11 incorporates a charging opening 13disposed above a melting section 14 and below a stack section 16.Usually, a charging floor 17 or other suitable support structure extendsbetween the cupolas and supports a curved rail 18, which follows aregular are about the center 12, and at a level somewhat below that ofthe charging openings 13. Wheels" 19 mounted on the rails 18 moveablysupport a frame 21 to which inclined opposed curvilinear channels 22 aresecured. The frame 21 is supported at its lower end by a turn-table orbed 23 having a central pivot 24 on the center 12, as well asstabilizing peripheral surfaces 26, thus permitting the frame 21 and theopposed channels 22 to swing with the bed 23 about the center 12 andserve either of the cupolas 10 or 11. l

A carriage 27 is provided with four or more spaced wheels 28 engagingthe channels 22. Arms 29 project forwardly from the carriage 27 and areshaped to receive trunnions 31 secured to the sides of a chargingbucket, generally designated 32. The upper ends of the channels 22 areprovided with stops 33 for limiting the uppermost position of thecarriage 27 to which it is raised by a winch 34 and cable 36. When thecarriage 27 is against the stops 33, the arms 29 project inwardlyapproximately to the center line of the cupola 11 and support thecharging bucket. 32 in the desired position in the charging opening 13.

The charging bucket 32 includes a generally cylindrical shell 37reinforced at its lower end by a circumferential band 38. The upper endof the shell 37 is provided with an outwardly flaring portion 39reinforced by gusset plates 41 and with a lip 42 extending upwardly onthe upper edge of the portion 39. The opposed trunnions 31, which aresupported by the arms 29 of the carriage 27, are secured as by weldingto the shell 37 near the outwardly flaring portion 39 and arediametrically opposed. A support member 43, reinforced by lateralgussets 44, extends across the top of the bucket 32 trans-. verselytothe axis of the trunnions 31 and is secured as by welding to the shell37 and portion 39. A joint 46 is pivotally secured to the center of thesupport bar 43 as by a pin 47 generally parallel to the axis of thetrunnions 31. The lower end of the joint 46 is notched as at 48 andprovided with a pin 49 disposed transversely to the pin 47 for receivinga support rod 51 of either round or polygonal cross section to which acone bottom, generally designated 52 may be secured.

The cone bottom 52 which may have an apex angle of about 90 is ofsufficient diameter at its base to close the bottom of the shell 37 andis preferably truncated near its peak. If desired, a peripheral lip 53may extend outwardly from the base of a conical body section 55 forengagement with the bottom of the shell 37 and the band 38, thus forminga tight seal. A cylinder 54 extends axially through the cone 52 and issecured thereto, as by welding. The rod 51 projects downwardly through asuitable opening in the upper end of the cylinder 54 and is threaded atits lower end to receive a nut 56 and washer 57. A relatively shortspring 58 and a relatively long spring 59 are mounted in the cylinder 54to bear against the upper end of the cylinder and the washer 57 when thebottom 52 is open. Preferably the long spring is of such length that inits most extended position approximately six inches will remain betweenthe-upper end of the spring and the upper end of the cylinder 54 whenthe bucket is closed.

Latch bars 61 are secured to the bottom of the cone 52 as by welding andproject outwardly beyond the periphery of the cone 52 a distancesuflicient to engage latch arms 62 pivotally secured to opposite sidesof the shell 37. Preferably the shell 37 and the band 38 are notched asat 63 to receive the latch bars 61 which are diametrically opposed andapproximately aligned with the axis of the trunnions 31. The latch arms62 include relatively long heavy upper arms 64 extending diagonallyupwardly from pivots 65 to an interconnecting yoke 66 upon which may bemounted 'a roller 67. The latch bars 62 also include relatively shortlower arms 68 which are substantially vertical when the cone 52 islocked to the shell 37 by. thelatch arms 62. The latch bars 61,

which are preferably of upwardly tapering cross section, V

are held in closed position by a projecting hook or lip 69 integral withthe arms 68 and having a flat upper surface 70 for engagement with theunder side of the latch bars 61.

The lower portion of the hooks 69, which'are normally held by the weightof the upper arms 64 in the path of the locking bars 61 are tapered, asshown in Fig. TM 65, in such manner that as the locking bars 61 areforced upwardly, the arms 62 will be forced to rock about pivots 65. Asthe bars 61 continue their upward movement,

the lower surface of the bars will clear the hook, allowing F the arms68 to swing to vertical position and thus engage the flat surfaces 78 ofthe hooks 69 with the under side of the locking bars 61. Stops, such aspins 75,'may be provided for limiting movement of the arms 62;

'- To provide for adequate opening, as well as suflicient j room for thesprings 58 and 59, the cylinder 54=will F.

usually project downwardly beyond the conical section 54 of the cone 52.I, therefore, prefer to provide spaced parallel series of supportingrollers 60 on the bed 23 to engage the bottom of the cone 52 as thecarriage 27 is dropped to the lower end of'the channels 22, the space 1between the rollers 60 being sufficient to permit passage 7 0f thedepending portion of the cylinder 54.

- iron, or limestone, is then added to the bucket 32 and the carriage 27hoisted by the winch 34 and cable 36 to the upper ends of the channels22. Shortly before the wheelsv 28 on the carriage 27 engage the stops33, the roller 67 'on the yoke 66 contacts a bumper block 50 mounted inthe cupola 11, thus forcing'the latch arm 62 to move in a clockwisedirection as shown in Fig. 7 by the dotted lines, and releases the cone52. Since the long spring 59 is not in engagement with the upper end ofthe cylinder 54, the cone bottom 52 falls free under the weight of thecharge until the long spring 58 is engaged. The spring 59 will retardbut will not stop downward movement of the cone bottom 52, whichcontinues to open at a reduced rate of speed until the short spring 58comes into engagement with the upper end of the cylinder 54. The actionof the spring 58 further retards the rate of fall and eventually bringsthe downward movement of the cone bottom 52 to a stop Without severeshock, this being particularly true inasmuch as the weight of the chargeis continuously decreased as the cone bottom 52 is moving downwardly.The cone bottom deflects the charge towards the walls of the cupola,rather than keeping it along the axis and since' the discharge occursover an appreciable period of time, the shock on the charge in thecupola is'greatly reduced. The bucket 32 and carriage 27 are thenlowered with the cone bottom supported in a partially closed position bythe springs 58 and 59 until the cone bottom 52 en gages the spacedrollers 60, which forces the bottom into a closed position.- The cycleis then repeated as desired. 7

In certain instances it will be found that hydraulic means for retardingthe rate at which the cone bottom 52 moves away from the shell 37 arepreferable to the springs hcreinbefore illustrated, this beingparticularly true when the load to which the bottom 52 is subjected isquite heavy. cylinder as shown in Fig. 10 for the mechanical structureincorporating springs as previously described. This I have illustratedin Figs. 843, inclusive, together with'a somewhat more preferable formof tripping mechanism for releasing the bottom 52 at the desiredmoment."

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, I provide a pair of arms, generallydesignated 71, substantially similar to the arms 62 hereinbeforedescribed and which are pivoted about diametrically opposed pivots 72mounted near the band 38. The arms 71 include lower arms 73 havingprojecting hooks 74 similar to the hooks 69 and upper arms 76 similar.to arms 64, but which project towards the trailing rather than theleading side of the bucket 37. The arms 76'may be connected by a yoke ora cross member 77, which extends laterally beyond the arms 76 and isprovided with rollers 78. Tripping bars 79 project downwardly andrearwardly from approximately the end of the curvilinear channels 22 andare disposed to engage the rollers 78 at or near the lower end of thebars 79 as the carriage 27 approaches its upper terminal position. Theangle of the tripping bars 79 is such that as the carriage 27 completesits movement into contact with the stops 33, the rollers 78 will beforcedupwardly' several advantages over that previouslyde'scribed inasmuch as the shock to the cupola is greatly reduced,

and the point of release more easily determined and adjusted. 7

My hydraulic cylinder, generally designated 81 is illusdated in Figs.10-13, inclusive, and may be substituted for the cylinder 54 as desired.The hydraulic cylinder 81; includes a cylinder 82 enclosed at its upperend by a plate 83 having an opening therein for a piston rod 84 andsealed by a packing gland 86. 4 The piston rod- 84 t I may, therefore,substitute a hydraulic an intermediate washer 94. The intermediatewasher 94 is provided with a plurality of metering orifices 96 extendingthrough the washer generally parallel to its axis. Set screws 97 extendinwardly from the periphery of the washer 94 to intercept the meteringorifices 96, thus permitting adjustment of the rate of flow through theorifices. Similar orifices of somewhat larger dimensions are provided inthe upper and lower washers 93. The washers 93 and 94 are also providedwith diametrically opposed openings, indicated at 98, for valves 99,which permit the relatively free passage of fluid from the lower portionof the cylinder through the piston. The valves 99 are preferably ofconventional design and are seated by gravity in known manner. Guides101 may be secured to the washers 93 to prevent cocking and cooperatewith washers 102 secured to the valves 99 to prevent excessivedisplacement of the valve.

Washers 93 and 94 are also provided with diametrically opposed openings103 through which guide rods 104 extend. These rods are secured to theupper cap 83 and the lower plate 88 and prevent twisting of the cylinder82 with respect to the piston 91. A spring 106 may be telescoped overthe guide rods and serves to cushion the terminal downward movement ofthe cone 52 which is fastened to the cylinder 82. Preferably the lengthof the spring 106 is considerably less than the overall length of thecylinder 82.

To prevent excessive wear of the packing 86 by dirt accumulating on thepiston rod 84, I provide a telescoping shield, generally designated 107comprising an outer cup 108 and an inner sleeve 109. Cup 108 has anupper plate 111 secured to the upper portion of the rod 84 near the pin49, and with side walls 112 which project downwardly around the sleeve109. The sleeve 109 telescopes over the upper end of the cylinder 82 andis provided at its upper extremity with an outwardly extendingperipheral flange 113 disposed in the path of an inwardly extendingflange 114 secured to the lower end of the outer cup 108. The sleeve 109is also provided with an inwardly extending peripheral flange 116 whichengages the external wall of the cylinder 82, thus sealing the rod 84.

Upon release of the locking bar 61, the weight of the charge forces thecylinder 82 downwardly. This movement is retarded by the metering actionof the orifices 96, the valves 99 being seated by the pressure of thefluid. As the cylinder moves downwardly the outer cup 108 and the innersleeve 109 move with respect to the cylinder to maintain a closurearound the rod 84. As the cone bottom approaches its lower position, theupper end of the spring 106 engages the upper closure plate 83 of thecylinder 82 and thus additionally retards the rate of movement. Thecarriage is lowered with its bottom 52 in a partially open positionuntil such time as the bottom engages the rollers 73 on the bed 23, atwhich time the bottom 52 is forced upwardly towards the shell 37 in amanner previously described. As the cylinder 82 moves upwardly, pressureis exerted on the fluid trapped in the cylinder below the piston 91,which forces the valves 99 into open position and permits thesubstantially unobstructed flow of fluid into the upper portion of thecylinder.

From the foregoing it is obvious that the many advantages of cone bottombuckets may now be realized in substantially any type of cupola chargingdevice, and that the use of both fixed tripping devices and bucket supports within the cupola is needless. Furthermore, the shock to thecupola and charge therein, sometimes occasioned by careless release ofthe load in the charging bucket, is eliminated, since the rate at whichthe load may be released is limited by my retarding mechanism. The conebottom, being suspended in open position from the relatively short rod,which is in turn supported by a universal joint, is free to movelaterally about a relatively short radius and will therefore allow thepassage of relai3 tively large objects without jamming. These, with theother advantages of my structure, not only reduce the overall cost ofinstallation and maintenance but also increase efliciency to asubstantial degree and prevent the use of relatively untrained laborwithout serious threat of cupola or charging apparatus damage throughinept operation.

The foregoing detailed description has been made in compliance with R.S. 4888 and is intended for purposes of illustration rather than by wayof limitation. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the details hereindescribed except insofar as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A charging bucket for cupolas and the like comprising a generallycylindrical shell, diametrically opposed trunnions on the shell near theupper end thereof, a cross member supported by the shell, a rod, auniversal joint connecting the rod and the cross member, an uprightconical bottom for the shell reciprocally mounted on the rod, a latchingdevice on the shell for releasably holding the bottom against the shell,and means for retarding the rate at which the bottom falls from theshell when the latching device is released, said means including acylinder around the rod fixed to the conical bottom a transverse memberon the rod and means within the inder engaging the transverse memberopposing rapid downward movement of the cylinder relative to thetransverse member.

2. A charging bucket for cupolas and the like comprising a generallycylindrical shell, diametrically opposed trunnions secured to the shellnear the upper end thereof, a member extending across the upper portionof the shell, a rod pivotally secured to said member and extendingdownwardly into the shell, an upright conical bottom for the shellreciprocally mounted on the rod, a gravity actuated arm pivoted to theshell and including a hook engageable with the bottom when the bottom isin closed position against the shell, and means for retarding the rateat which the bottom falls from the shell when the latching device isreleased, said means including a cylinder around the rod fixed to theconical bottom a transverse member on the rod and means within thecylinder engaging the transverse member opposing rapid downward movementof the cylinder relative to the transverse member.

3. A charging device for cupolas and the like comprising a generallycylindrical hollow shell, diametrically opposed trunnions on the shellnear the upper end thereof, a cross member extending across the upperend of the shell, a rod, a universal joint connecting the rod and thecross member, an upright conical bottom for the shell reciprocallymounted on the rod, a pair of latch arms pivotally secured to oppositesides of the shell, the lower ends of the latch arms having projectinghook-shaped lips, the surface of each lip being relatively flat forengagement with the bottom, and thus locking the bottom to the shell,and the lower surface thereof being inclined and in the path of thebottom whereby the arms are forced from the path of the bottom as thelatter approaches the shell and means between said bottom and said rodfor at all times retarding opening movement of the bottom.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein the latch arms are connectedby a yoke disposed to arrange the arms into the path of the bottom bygravity.

5. A charging bucket for cupolas and the like comprising a generallycylindrical shell, diametrically opposed trunnions on the shell, a crossmember extending across the mouth of the shell, a rod, a universal jointconnecting the rod and the cross member, an upright conical bottom forthe shell reciprocally mounted on the rod, latching means on the shellfor releasably holding the bottom against the shell, and resilient meansinterposed between the rod and the bottom for continuously retardingmovement of the bottom away from the shell.

6. A charging bucket for Cupolas and the like compris- 7 ing 'agenerally cylindrical shell, diannetrieally opposed trunnions on theshell, a cross member extending across the mouth of the shell, a rodfreely suspended from the cross member for swinging movement toward anyportion of the lower shell periphery, an upright conical bottom for theshell reciprocally mounted on the rod, releasable latching means on theshell for holding the bottorn a ainst the shell, and h dranlic meansinteroosedbetween the rod and the bottom for retarding the rate ofmovement of the'bottom away from the shell.

7. A' charging bucket for cupolas and the like comprising a cylindricalshell having a month, diametrically opposed trunnions near the mouth, across member fixed with respect to the shell, a rod pivotally secured tothe cross member and extending into the shell, a cylinder reciprocallytelescoped over the rod, an upright conical bottom for the shell securedto the c'dinder, a latching device on the shell for releasably holdingthe bottom against the shell, and a means continuously acting on the rodand cylinder for retarding the rate of fall of the bot- 'tom.

8. A charging bucket for cupolas and the like comprising a cylindricalhollow shell having a mouth, diametrically opposed trunnioris secured tothe shell near the mouth, aisupport member extending across the mouth ofthe shell, a rod freely secured at one end to the cross memberfor'swingingmovement and extending into the shell, a piston on the lowerend of the rod, a hydraulic cylinder reciprocally telescoped over therod, an upright conical bottom for the shell secured to the cylinder,and a releasable latching device on the shell for holding the bottomagainst the shell, said piston including orifices for retarding the flowof fluid within the cylinder in one direction. r

9. A charging device for cupolas and the like comprising a hollow shellhaving a mouth, diametrically opposed trunnions for supp rting theshell, an axially disposed rod in thevshell, means fixed with respect tothe shell supporting the rod for free swinging movement, a piston on thelower end of the rod, a cylinder telescoped over the piston and closedat each end, a bottom for the shell securedto the cylinder, said bottomhaving a generally conical cross section and extending upwardly into theshell,

valve means in the piston for restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid inone direction, and latching means on the shell for holding the bottom totheshell.

10. A charging device for cupolas and the like comprising a hollow shellhaving a mouth, diametrically opposed trunnions for supporting theshell, a support member extending across the mouth of the shell, anupright conical bottom for the shell, latching means on the shell forreleasably holding the bottom to the shell, and means for reciprocallysupporting the bottom from the support member, said means including ahydraulic cylinder and piston assembly interconnecting the supportmember and the bottom, the piston of said'assembly having orificestherein for retarding movement of the bottom away from the shell and auniversal joint between the rod and support member. V

11. A charging bucket for cupolas and the like com:

prising a right cylindrical shellhaving open upper and lower ends, atransverse support member fixed with .respect to the shell near theupper .end, a universal joint on the support member, a bottom tortheshell, a latch on the shell for .releasably holding the bottom againstthe shell, and an upright hydraulic piston and cylinder assemconnectingsaid joint and bottom for continuously retarding downward movement ofthe bottom with respectto the shell.

References Cited in the file of th'is patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS

